Division of Student Affairs Awards 2025
Congratulations to members of the Division of Student Affairs and Texas A&M University staff who received awards at the 2025 DSA Awards Ceremony for their outstanding contributions to our students and programs!
RANDY MATSON ’67 ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS AWARD
Dr. Melanie McKoin Owens
Student Life
Nick Heiar
Recreational Sports
JOHN J. KOLDUS III FACULTY AND STAFF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Trish Winkle
Global Engagement
Dr. Jennifer Dulin
Department of Biology
J. MALON SOUTHERLAND ’65 AWARD
Jaclyn Upshaw-Brown
Student Life
AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
Carly Smith
Residence Life
Michelle Hannett
Disability Resources
Mary Compton
MSC Programs
Kayla Young
Student Activities
Alyssa Moncrief Cobb
Recreational Sports
Kim-Quyen Nguyen
Graduate Assistant, Student Activities
AWARD OF DISTINCTION – TEAM
Residence Life Operations & Events Team
Dr. Rob Webber, Meagan Alexander, Emiel Medrano, Lauren Watson, Amy Ullrich and Allison Orr
Residence Life
DSA AFFILIATE AWARD
Callan Christensen
Technology Services – Student Affairs
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING AWARD
Mark Dawson
Multicultural Services
YEARS OF SERVICE
Shannon Burns, Career Center
Susan Keough, Career Center
Julie Golchuk, Disability Resources
Jessica Harp, Disability Resources
Nick Russell, Disability Resources
Kevin Taylor, Finance – Student Affairs
Sofia Lafaire, Marketing & Communications
Mariah Patrick, Marketing & Communications
Melaney Pearl, MSC Programs
Josh Brown, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Emily Patterson, Recreational Sports
Alexis Broussard, Residence Life
Dalton Jones, Student Activities
Frances Jackson, Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research
Asia Smith, Student Community Standards
Justin Romack, Disability Resources
Nicole McKnight, Finance – Student Affairs
Audrey Peña, Marketing & Communications
Brent Cockrell, Residence Life
Dylan Murray, Student Activities
Audrey Winking, Student Community Standards
Melanie McKoin Owens, Student Life
Colleen Morgan, Don & Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource & Support Center
Michael Shehane, Career Center
Cruz Rios, Multicultural Services
Tyson Reddic, Technology Services – Student Affairs
Donald St. Martin, Technology Services – Student Affairs
Barbara Prestwood, Career Center
Kelly Vondrehle, Marketing & Communications
Chris Hollar, Music Activities
Maggie Guzman, Residence Life
Tia Crawford, Student Activities
Shirley Alvarado, Career Center
Maria Ortega, Disability Resources
Kim Heslip, Finance – Student Affairs
Sandy Barrett, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Jason, Kurten, Recreational Sports
Bradley Collett, Career Center
Tracy Fields, Finance – Student Affairs
Kristie Orr, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Arranna Bennett, Finance – Student Affairs
Davanna Minter, Student Life
Rick Powell, Student Life
Deryle Richmond, MSC Programs
FISH CAMP NAMESAKES
Justin Majors, Residence Life
Caitlin Dartez, Career Center
Paul Rainey, Career Center
ADVISORS OF THE YEAR
New Advisor of the Year: Kelsi Opat, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
Registered Category: Seth Sullivan, Aggie Nations
Associated Category: Augusta Roth, TAMUG Council of American Master Mariners
Partnered Category: Justin Majors, National Residence Hall Honorary
Sponsored Category: Dekia Greene, Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Chareny Rydl, Residence Life
Tracey Foreman, Disability Resources
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Susan Keough
- S. Human Resource Development, Texas A&M University, 2024.
- Co-Chair, Military & Veteran Faculty and Staff Network (MilVetNet), 2022-Present.
Barclay Osborne
- Louder, T., Osborne, B., & Zenn, J. (2024, December). Embracing Lumiere: Adapting Our Strategies to Help Students Find Their Happily Ever After. Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE) Annual Conference. Orlando, FL.
- Completed HROE Leading Self Program, 2025.
Amarette Renieri
- Chair, Student Career Development Knowledge Community, NASPA, 2024-2026.
- Renieri, A., & Henderson, T. (2025, March). How Supervisors Leverage Gen AI for Employee Career Development in Higher Education. NASPA Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
- Renieri, A., Shehane, M. Malone, K., McDermand, J. et al. (2025, March). Celebrating 15 Years of HESA Internship & Developing Future Student Affairs Professionals. NASPA Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
- Renieri, A., & Henderson, T. (2025, April). How Supervisors Leverage Gen AI for Employee Career Development in Higher Education. NASPA Virtual Annual Conference. Virtual.
Michael Shehane
- Renieri, A., Shehane, M. E., Malone, K., Wolfe, D., Zenn, J., Coffee, M., & McDermand, J. (2025, March). How the HESA internship develops future student affairs professionals. NASPA Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
- Shehane, M. E., & Stevenson, H. (2024, December). Magical mentoring moments: Reconnecting across state lines to reset and recharge. Southern Association of College and Employers (SoACE) Annual Conference. Orlando, FL.
- Burns, S., Renieri, A., & Shehane, M. E. (2024, December). Reconnect and recenter: Navigating new roles within the same office. Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE) Annual Conference. Orlando, FL.
- Shehane, M. E. (2024, September). Mentorship and career development. SoACE LEAD (Leadership, Empowerment, Advancement, Development) Program Meeting. Virtual.
Tracey Forman
- Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award for Individual Student Relations, Texas A&M University, 2025.
Kristie Orr
- Appointed member of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, 2025.
- Harwell, P., Goad, C., Orr, K., & Curry, C. (2024). Advancing digital accessibility with the AEM Quality Indicators for Higher Education (Practice Brief). Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability. 37(4). 345-350.
- Orr, K., Goad, C., Rutherford, A., & Ortega, M. (2024). Cultivating Leadership: Mastering the Art of Being Number Two. Association on Higher Education and Disability Annual Conference: Baltimore, MD.
- Orr, K., Romack, J., Wiley, B., & McKenzie, J. (2024). Toward an Inclusive Campus: Addressing Faculty Training Challenges We All Face. Association on Higher Education and Disability Annual Conference: Baltimore, MD.
- Mitchell, M. & Orr, K. (2024). Recharge and Renew your Professional Mojo Through Storytelling. Association on Higher Education and Disability Annual Conference: Baltimore, MD.
- Andrews, K., Awoniyi, B., Getchell, C., Hall, E., Hamilton, V., Kraus, A., Meyer, A., & Orr, K. (2024). The Road to Access Goes Through Faculty: Exploring Successful Collaborative Approaches. Association on Higher Education and Disability Annual Conference: Baltimore, MD.
- Kraus, A., Meyer, A., Orr, K., & Goad, G. (2024). Talking Through Professional Tensions: A Roundtable Discussion. Association on Higher Education and Disability Annual Conference: Baltimore, MD.
Justin Romack
- M.S. in Educational Administration, Texas A&M University, 2024.
Lindsey Norman
- Division of Student Affairs Leadership Academy for Developing Supervisors Certificate, Texas A&M University, 2024.
Luisa Craig
- MSC Council Advisor of the Year Award, MSC Council/MSC Programs, 2024-2025.
- Division of Student Affairs Leadership Academy for Developing Supervisors Certificate, Texas A&M University, 2024.
- Attended New Professionals Institute, NASPA Region III/SACSA, 2024.
Natalie McIntyre
- M.S. in Higher Education, State University of New York at Albany, 2024.
Deryle Richmond
- President’s Meritorious Service Award, 2025.
Stephanie Walker
- Sustainability Champion Award – Staff, Texas A&M Office of Sustainability & Campus Enrichment, 2025.
- MSC Student Programs Office LED Lighting Upgrade, Aggie Green Fund Grant, $104,010.90.
- Howdy Camp Namesake, 2025.
Christopher Hollar
- Featured guest for Texas A&M System Chancellor Sharp’s Around Texas video series, highlighting the origin and history of the Hullabaloo Band.
- The Christopher Hollar, Southerland Scholarship award for Hullabaloo Band was endowed from a former and original member of Mr. Hollar’s 2004 band in recognition of the 20th
Catherine Halverson
- Presidential Meritorious Service Award – Team, Texas A&M University, 2025.
Justin Jeffery
- Chair, Subcommittee of Capacity Study at Texas A&M University.
- NASPA Region III Foundation Ambassador, 2022-2025.
- NASPA Foundation Board Member, 2025-2028.
- Selected as faculty for the NASPA/SACSA Region III New Professionals Institute, 2025.
Sachi Carr-Chargualaf
- Certificate in SHRM-CP, Society of Human Resources, 2024.
- Certificate in PHR, Human Resources Certificate Institute, 2024.
Oscee Wheatfall III
- Co-Chair, NIRSA Region IV Conference, 2024.
Maggie Guzman
- Jim Gibson Exceptional Service Award, Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers (SWACUHO), 2025.
Justin Majors
- Fish Camp Namesake, 2024.
- Everything DiSC® Certified Facilitator, 2024.
Carly Smith
- Bob Cooke Distinguished Service Award, Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers (SWACUHO), 2025.
- Program Committee Co-Chair, Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers (SWACUHO), 2024-2026.
Andrew Carruth
- Ph.D., Texas A&M University, 2024.
Shante Hearst
- Stewart, S., Haynes, C., Elgoharry, Y., & Hearst, S. (2025). Black liberation research methodology. In J. Creswell Baez (Section Ed.). Issues of Equity: Key Concepts in Qualitative Methods (pp. 3-7). In J. Salvo and J. Ulmer (Eds.), Routledge Resources Online (formerly: Routledge Encyclopedia of Qualitative Methods). Routledge.
- Hearst, S. C., Simmons, D., & Davenport, M. Y. (2024). From Collegiate to Career. Delta Sigma Theta 49th Southwest Regional Conference, Austin, TX.
- Certificate of College Teaching, Texas A&M University, 2024.
Kelly Cox
- Team facilitator and institution coach, Texas Higher Education Collaborative for Wellbeing, August 2024-August 2026.
- Carroll, B., Cox, K., Hughes, J., Stangl, J., & Tirso, R. (2024, September). Exploring and Assessing Student Wellbeing at Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University. Texas Association for Higher Education Assessment, San Antonio, TX.
- Carruth, A., Cox, K., Palomin, L., & Tirso, R. (2024, September). Building Partnerships to Assess & Improve Student Wellbeing. Texas Association of College & University Student Personnel Administrators, San Marcos, TX.
- Cox, B., Cox, K., & Huebler, D. (2025, March). Beyond the Basics: Using student wellbeing data to elevate auxiliary services. NACAS South CX ’25, Pigeon Forge, TN.
Darby Roberts
- Legacy Award, Student Affairs Assessment Leaders, 2025.
- Board of Directors At-Large Member, NASPA, 2025-2027.
- Board Member, Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification, 2025-2027.
- Co-Chair, Texas A&M University 2040 Student Life and Engagement Subcommittee, 2025-2026.
- Conzen, C., Milette, M., Roberts, D. M., Velazquez, T. (2025). No thanks, I’m good: Empowering mid-level managers with skill development over traditional advancement. NASPA. New Orleans, LA.
- Eckert, E., Roberts, D. M., & Sokolich, A. (2024). Student affairs’ role and responsibilities for institutional accreditation. NASPA Student Success in Higher Education Conferences. Anaheim, CA.
- Roberts, D. M., & Bono, T. (2024). You want me to do what? Ethics and politics in student affairs assessment. NASPA Student Success in Higher Education Conferences. Anaheim, CA.
- Roberts, D. M., Boren, S., Christakis, M., Mastrodicasa, J. (2025). Student affairs assessment: Past, present, and future. NASPA. New Orleans, LA.
- Roberts, D. M., Peczalska, A., Radimer, S., & McKenzie, B. (2025). Assessment 101. (Pre-conference session). NASPA. New Orleans, LA.
Skylar Latham
- Smith, A., Doughty, J., and Latham, S. (2025, February). Preserving Tradition, Preventing Hazing: Navigating Challenges in Tradition-Heavy Institutions. Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA) Conference. Portland, OR.
Asia Smith
- Smith, A., Doughty, J., and Latham, S. (2025, February). Preserving Tradition, Preventing Hazing: Navigating Challenges in Tradition-Heavy Institutions. Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA) Conference. Portland, OR.
- Smith, A., Peralta, Y., & . Mitchell, J. (2025, February). Intersectionality in Action: The Experiences of Women of Color in Conduct Officer Roles. Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA) Conference. Portland, OR.
Lauren Dorsett
- Montemayor, B., & Dorsett, L. (2025). Cheers to Culture: Exploring the role of campus customs in student drinking [Conference Presentation]. 2025 NASPA Strategies Annual Conference. Boston, MA.
- Montemayor, B., & Dorsett, L. (2025). Beneath the Surface: Leveraging behavioral health data for hispanic/latine student programs [Conference Presentation]. 2025 NASPA Strategies Annual Conference. Boston, MA.
- Crisafi, D., Hill, J., & Dorsett, L. (2025). Going Beyond the Checkbox: Ways to effectively grow your bystander intervention programs. [Conference Presentation]. 2025 NASPA Strategies Annual Conference. Boston, MA.
- Dorsett, L., & Hill, J. (2025). WISHES at Texas A&M University. [Poster Session]. 2025 NASPA Strategies Annual Conference. Boston, MA.
- Inter-Department Collaboration Project: Engaging in professional conferences as a strategy for building professional competence of graduate students in public health. Role: Co-PI. Awarded $5000.00.
- Secretary, United States Health Promoting Campuses Network, 2025-2026.
Stephanie Love
- MA in History, Sam Houston State University, 2024.
- Inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who, 2025.
Loretta Foster
- Senior Certified Professional, Society for Human Resource Management, May 2024.
Carl Ivey
- Top BRM of 2025, Business Relationship Management Institute, 2025.
- IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Advisory Board, PeopleCert, 2024-2025.
- Prince2 Project Management Advisory Board, PeopleCert, 2024-2025.
- EDUCAUSE Annual Conference Content Committee, EDUCAUSE, 2025.
- ITIL 4® Master, PeopleCert, 2025.
- Ivey, C., Sweeney, D. (2024) The value of IT Service Management to Project Managers, UT Dallas PM Symposium. Dallas, TX.
- Ivey, C. (2024) Creating Order from Chaos: A 15-year journey toward becoming a strategic partner, BRMConnect 2024, BRM Institute. San Juan, PR.
- Belyeu, D., Evans, M., Ivey, C. A., Laatsch, B., Mai, B., Oehrich, E., Sweeney, D., (2023) Bridging the skills gaps: A conversation between academia and industry [Online Webinar]
